'99 Memo shows Thompson staff wanted to advise McCain on NH retail politics

In a memo written almost exactly eight years ago, an adviser to then Senator Fred Thompson briefed staff on a recent trip Thompson made to New Hampshire on behalf of John McCain.

The memo, which can be found among Thompson's papers stored at the University of Tennessee, was provided to the Globe by a rival campaign with the intention of pointing out that while Thompson advisers thought they were savvy about New Hampshire back then they are skipping tonight's Fox News debate in New Hampshire and preferring to do the Jay Leno Show instead.

The memo can be read here: Download file. In it Bob D (who might be 1996 Thompson Campaign Manager Bob Davis) says that "folks in New Hampshire recognized [Thompson] at every event".

The writer went on to brashly declare "I believe we can offer suggestions to McCain's campaign team on how to improve on retail campaigning. They haven't asked, and I don't know if we need to offer, but just something for us to possibly suggest".